Sunday, April 22, 2007

I have been enjoying these Elm Creek Quilts Novels. I'm not sure how many there are in the series; however, I know the new one is on the NYTimes Best Seller's List.

There is a very nice web site with quilt block patterns, book news, blog by author, block-of-the-week, etc. Web Site Here. I enjoyed reading the Sugar Camp Quilt book best. The other two I read were very good, too.

No complaints with the weather this week-end. It is perfect!!! Nice breeze, sunny, 70s, how awesome!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Sue, stitcherw said she was "looking forward to seeing your queen stitches. Those are so lovely looking, however, they are the one stitch (in addition to french knots) that I can never seem to get to look right."

Sue, I've got a photo to share with you of some stitch samples I made up a couple years ago. I was practicing the queen stitches & was using strawberry motifs I found in sampler books. IMO - using ONE strand of silk or perle cotton creates a more even stitch than cotton floss. I like using silk. The coverage is very good!

There may be other bloggers with more tips. I practice them before adding them to a sampler.

BEFORE I FORGET TO ASK .... Does anybody have a good recipe for corn bread??? I am a terrible baker & would like to give up using mixes all the time. I tried a recipe this morning & ended up with a brick. See link here. My son, Nick & daughter, Tori seem to get the knack of baking. Why can't I??

Sunday, April 08, 2007

I pulled out some of my favourite bunny projects. Seems I didn't create a new Spring project, yet!! I had a couple small things planned & opted to continue working on some larger WIPs.

This is "Rabbit Forest" by The Workbasket. I goofed with the spacing on the pattern & had to move things around a bit -- and add a couple little things : ) Hard to resist those darling rabbits.This is "The Bunny Hop" designed by Judy Whitman, JBW Designs c.1999. I made a few changes with the floss colors.

I've made a few sewing smalls with rabbit motifs, too. They are delightful to stitch : ) Enjoy the day. Stitch well.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

I was out running errands & shopping for hours yesterday. It was windy, cold, w/snow flurries. I picked a terrible day for shopping.

Came home & picked up Alex (DS who will be 15 in June). Alex needed a new watch [very] badly. Alex had a list of must haves for his watch INCLUDING telling time. When I took him back to the store, he took FOREVER to choose one model. The lady behind the counter was so nice. She kept taking them out of the glass case & he'd look it over & test out the features. He doesn't need a manual to figure out any of that stuff & it takes me forever to reset the digital clock in my car when the time changes!! We were there at least an hour ... and hooray, he found the perfect watch ... for $29.95 : )

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

I've added a few more letters into the Old Saybrook Sampler. I am following the DMC colors provided & trying my best at the letter placement. The graph I have isn't the greatest; however, this really is a fab repro once stitched.

I FINALLY finished ALL of the vines on this tabletopper. I was worried that I would run out of perle cotton -- did have a small piece left over [used 2 skeins of pc#5 for the vines]. I started the first of four beehives.

This is a small place card stitched by my Mother. She made 50+ for a Lenten Breakfast program at her church. The inside of the card has a small paper inserted with some info re. their program. I hope the program participants appreciated them!

I have been reading two books: Angela's Ashes [Memoir by Frank McCourt] and The Mercy Seller [Historical Fiction by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. Seems I've enjoyed my books more than stitching these past few days : )

Hard to believe it is 31 degrees, 45mph winds, wind chill reading of 12 degrees. I'd like to have that 60 degree stuff back. Our flowers are blown to the ground. We are expecting snow flurries. Time to run a few errands. Blek.